Beware The Dangers of Electric Tools

by Geoff Cummings

Electric woodworking tools are often used. It is very important that careful thought and great care be taken with them, for they can inflict serious wounds.

Perhaps the most common electric tool, aside from drills, is the power handsaw.

In the case of a power handsaw, the blade must be kept sharp to run easily and safely. The machine is very dangerous if the blade becomes dull, for instead of cutting the wood fibers, the blade tends to climb on top of them and acts as a wheel, propelling the saw in your direction at a very fast speed.

Clamping a straight edge (a straight narrow board) near the line you want to cut, and then sliding the base of your electric saw along it, will ensure a safe cut, for this will keep the saw from binding. When the saw binds, it comes back at you in what is called a “kickback.” Generally, it is good to keep both hands on the saw.

Have the piece you are cutting in a solid, safe position and always maintain good footing. The operator of an electric handsaw should always keep in position so that if the saw kicks back, he can maintain control of it. A key to the safe use of electric hand tools is: Always think ahead about what could happen before it occurs.

Sometimes a larger woodworking machine such as a table saw is used. This fine machine can do great amounts of cutting safely and quickly. It is not the most devastating of large woodworking machines, but it is one with which accidents most commonly occur. Here again, a very important safety step is to keep the blade sharp.

The few minutes taken to sharpen it are well worth the time spent. Most areas of the world require that machines of this type have a guard over the blade. This is a great protection.

A basic principle to keep in mind when operating the table saw is to keep a continual watch on where your hands are as you use the machine. Be sure that the floor is kept clean so that you do not slip. The greatest danger in operating table saws comes from “kickbacks.”

With that in mind, never place your hands in any position where they will be dragged into the blade in the event that the wood kicks back at you. This means that you must not put your hands on the portion of the saw table that is on the side of the blade away from the operator (the back side of the saw).

The saw blade should be kept approximately one quarter of an inch (6 millimeters) above the material that you are cutting. Keeping the blade this low will minimize the chance of your being injured.

The “grain” refers to the fibers in the wood, which may be pictured as long and narrow, and usually lying in the same direction as the length of a board. “Ripping” a board means cutting it in the same direction as the grain or fibers. “Crosscutting” means cutting across the fibers or grain.

When ripping (cutting a board lengthways), as you feed the material through the saw your eyes should be down where you can see your hands, the blade (covered by the guard) and the fence. (The fence is the clamping metal straightedge against which you guide the wood through the saw. This is called a ripping fence. Another fence, called a miter gauge, which slides in a groove in the saw table, is used in crosscutting.)

As you pass the wood through the saw, it is important not only to watch your hands and the blade, but to keep your eyes mainly along the ripping fence. By watching that the wood does not creep away from the fence, you will protect yourself against kickback.

Some have the practice of doing “freehand” cutting. In this case, the operator uses neither the ripping fence nor the crosscut fence for support, but rests the wood on the table and guides it into the blade with only his hands holding it. Never allow yourself to succumb to the temptation of doing this.

Kickbacks very often occur with this kind of cutting. Rather than attempting a freehand cut on a table saw, you should use a band saw or an electric jigsaw to make the cut. The few seconds saved by the freehand cut are not worth the time lost and the injury suffered should an accident occur.

Also, do not use the crosscut fence and the ripping fence at the same time, as wood can bind between them. You should use either one or the other, but material should not be cut on a table saw without using a fence to stabilize it.

In the event that you must make a small cut that requires removal of the table saw’s guard, what should you do? Use a wooden push stick so that your hand does not have to come close to the blade.

Another good thought on safety: Do not operate high-speed power equipment if you are very fatigued. Most accidents happen late in the day when workers are tired. Never yield to the temptation of hurrying with your machinery.

Then, too, do not attempt to cut badly warped or twisted boards on a table saw, since they almost invariably bind and kick back. They should first be straightened on a jointer.

It is a very good practice never to stand with your face directly in line with the turning saw blade. If a knot comes flying out of the wood, it may be hurled at you at over 100 miles (160 kilometers) an hour! Stand slightly to the right or to the left of the saw blade’s thrust. And it is a very good idea to wear safety glasses.

Other Helpful Safety Hints

Here are some other thoughts on homeshop safety. When using power hand drills, make sure that you are not standing in water, unless you are wearing rubber gloves and leak-proof rubber boots; otherwise you could be electrocuted if there is a short in the wiring.

In operating a drill press, clamp down the material being drilled, or clamp down a stop block for protection. This will keep the press from pulling the piece out of your hand and hitting you with it. Never use an electric grinding wheel without wearing a face shield or safety glasses. More than one worker has suffered permanent eye damage when a small piece of metal flew up and entered his eye. Also, the wheel could break and fly into your face.

Parents should give their children good instruction on safe use of hand and electric tools. School instruction classes also are very good, as is home study through various fine books on safe woodworking.

It is important for a person who enjoys working with wood to develop good habits in using his tools. Someday his thoughts may wander for a moment while he is working. Then, without thinking, his good habit will take over and automatically he will make the safe movement, never putting his hand in the wrong position.

So get safe work habits clearly in mind. Always make yourself follow them and they will afford you the pleasure of safe home woodworking.

About the author:

Geoff runs the site at http://www.ourhometools.com where visitors will find a wide range of discount priced power tools.

Electric Power Tools Safety

Electricity typically travels in a carefully directed closed-system. Electrical shock can occur when the body becomes part of this system, or creates a new system path. The actual damage from shock is from current flow (amperes).

As little as 50 milliamperes (or 1/20th of an ampere) can cause electrocution. The danger is multiplied by the amount of time (duration) that the shock is applied through the body.

A lower voltage of say, a 120 volt household current can cause severe shock or death in as little as 3 or 4 seconds duration. Higher voltages at less duration can cause the same amount of current flow and damage.

Shock normally occurs in one of three methods:

Touching both wires of an electrical circuit.

Touching one (hot) wire of an electrical circuit and the ground.

Touching a metallic part that has become energized and the ground.

The last method can be the least-expected type of shock related injury. If the insulation of the electrical parts or wiring inside a tool becomes deteriorated or damaged, electricity can be allowed to flow along the metal parts and body of the tool. This is why "grounding" is so important.

Electrical circuits from utilities have one or more "hot" conductors which have electrical energy, and a neutral or "grounded" conductor. This grounded conductor is the normal path electricity takes back to the utility.

If this pathway is interrupted by a person, current can then flow through the person, causing shock. To help prevent this, electrical circuits have an equipment ground, or "grounding" conductor. This is a second, redundant ground path (to be used in cases of equipment defects) which is bonded electrically to the non-current-carrying metal parts of a tool.

By having all metallic parts of tools bonded to a grounding conductor, this conductor- and not the worker can safely carry away any electrical current in the case of a tool's malfunction.

When a tool is properly grounded, current through the body is either eliminated, or greatly reduced. This is why OSHA requires either the use of GFCI receptacles, or all tools and extension cords periodically checked for ground continuity.

The GFCI receptacle is especially useful since it will (even without a good ground) sense more amperes flowing out from the power source than back from the tool. Any imbalance greater than 5 millamperes (significantly less than a shock hazard) will cause the receptacle to shut off- usually within 1/40th of a second. If a GFCI receptacle shuts off, the worker can then find the cause of the electrical problem.

Because of the hazards associated with electrical powered tools, care must be taken to examine daily the visible condition of tool and extension cords, especially the cord ends for any damage or defects. Tools should be checked out when returned to the shop before reissuing back out to the workplace.

OSHA has five overall recommendations for electrical tools safety.

Maintain tools in good condition.

Use the correct tool for the job.

Examine each tool for damage before use.

Operate tools according to manufacturer's instructions.

Use adequate personal protective equipment.

Picking the Right Power Tools

by John Gault

Gas powered or charged? Cordless or corded? Makita or Milwaukee? What is the real difference between them, and do you really need to know? Of course you need to know. Besides the fact that certain power tools are better for certain projects, it’s your money that’s being spent on these items. With that said, here are a few tips to picking the right power tools, either for the project or job at hand or for your collection.

First things first, you need to figure out how much you will be using a particular power tool. If you’re planning on building a house, you’ll probably be using an electric saw or power drill a bit more than if you’re building a small shed. In this case, it would be a good idea to invest a bit more of your hard earned money into a high grade, professional-quality power tool than to buy a new lower-end model several times during the duration of the project.

After all, the lower end models simply aren’t to be used as often as the professional ones. On the flip side of that, if you have a relatively small project to complete and you don’t foresee many additional ones down the road, there’s not really a need to pay the price of a higher-end power tool.

When it comes to the flexibility of cordless power tools, there are both pros and cons to buying such a tool. The cordless tools have a battery pack to give the necessary power to the tool, but it needs to be charged when not in use. These battery packs can last anywhere from one to several hours, depending on the brand, model, and of course, the price.

If your project needs require only a few hours of one power tool at a time, leaving enough time for the battery pack and tool to be recharged before it’s needed again, a cordless power tool will be an asset to your tool chest. But if the tool is something you’ll be using over and over again without time to recharge, you’re better off with a corded power tool and several extension cords. What good would the best power tool be to you and your project if you can’t use it because the battery pack is dead?

When the question arises about gas-powered tools, it would have to depend on your personal preferences. I personally don’t like to have extra gas lying around in my garage because I have a small child. Other than that, gas gives you a lot of the finer traits of the cordless tools, plus the longevity of the corded.

Finally, when picking out the right power tools, be sure to purchase them from a business that sells everything you need to run your tool safely. This included protective eyewear and gloves as well as the appropriate clothing for you to complete your project the same way you began it- in one piece.

John Gault recommends that you visit http://www.toolbarn.com/ for more information on Power Tools.

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Electric Tools Provide Fast Motorized Muscle

Electric tools generate much more power than a lone human can provide. These tools add the power of electric motors to manual tools. The resulting electric power tools are excellent labor saving devices. The tedious cranking of the hand auger has been replaced by the quick efficiency of the electric drill. The back-breaking hand saw has been outpaced by the fast and easy electric circular saw. Electric sanders smooth woodworking projects thousands of times faster than hand sanding ever could.

Many electric tools operate using standard house current and voltage. This is a great advantage at the worksite, where that is the only type of electrical connection available. Often this means that extension cords must run from the connection to the power tool. This can be a safety hazard at a worksite. First, some extension cords are not rated to handle the currents needed by some power tools. The second danger is that these long cords are a tripping hazard, especially if multiple cords are used.

Battery powered electric tools eliminate the need for extension cords. These power tools utilize small but powerful rechargeable electric batteries. The worker has much more freedom to take his electric tool where it is needed. However, batteries need recharging, and heavy use means more frequent recharging periods. Because recharging may take several hours or overnight, start the job with several fully charged batteries at the beginning of the day. Let all the electric tool batteries recharge each night.

In a workshop, cords and batteries are not problems. All electric tools would simply plug into the house receptacles. Some power tools such as nailers run on compressed air. However, even a nailer needs an electric compressor. Table saws, band saws, sanders, planers, joiners, and even lathes can run on standard electric current. If an electric tool needs more demanding electric power, this can be installed for a nominal fee.

Electric powered tools are superior to tools that run on gasoline, except where electricity is unavailable. For example, loggers in mountainous terrain would certain use gasoline chain saws. For most other jobs, the electrically powered tool has the convenience advantage. On everyday worksites, the work crew using electric tools never has to worry about running out for another can of electricity!

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Milwaukee Electric Tool MLW0880 20 18V Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Works with Any US $129.16

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